News Archive 2015

January 5, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, "C&O Canal Invites Feedback on Proposal to Increase and Expand Entrance and Other Fees Park-wide"

February 3, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, "New Venue Announced for C&O Canal NHP Public Meetings on Fee Proposals in Glen Echo, MD and Shepherdstown, WV--Updated FAQ’s Also Available"

From website of C&O Canal Trust: "C&O Canal Pride Days 2015" (The Friends of Historic Great Falls Tavern have scheduled their spring clean-up of the Tavern for 9 am to 11 am, Sat, April 18 in cooperation with Pride Day at Great Falls. Volunteers are invited to help out.)

February 6, 2015, The [Potomac Almanac] Connection, "A Leafier Kind of Classroom in Potomac’s Backyard"

April 22, 2015, Potomac Almanac, "C&O Canal Clean-Up", cover and page 3. Friends of Historic Great Falls Tavern participated in the clean-up.

April 23, 2015, Sadie Dingfelder, Washington Post, "A C&O Canal guru recounts tales from the trail", features the Paw Paw Tunnel.

From website of C&O Canal Trust, 8th Annual Canal Pride Days--Another Successful Year. Friends of Historic Great Falls Tavern was one of the sponsors and participated in the event.

From website of C&O Canal Trust, C&O Canal National Historical Park Awarded Centennial Funds to Match Funds Raised by the C&O Canal Trust. Friends of Historic Great Falls Tavern was one of the sponsors and participated in the event.

May 11, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Towpath Repair and Resurfacing Mile Post 74 - 76. Work begins approximately May 11 on an area above Lock 38. The towpath will remain open to visitors with only brief delays.

May 12, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Fee Increase. C&O Canal NHP will charge increased entrance, amenity and camping fees beginning June 1, 2015, only in locations where fees currently are collected.

May 12, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Carderock Picnic Pavilion and Marsden Tract Group Campsite Reservations Go Online. The new reservation system will simplify the process for groups who will now be able to instantly access calendars to check availability.

May 15, 2015, Mary Stortstrom, The Journal, "National Park Service Seeking Input on Invasive Plant Management." The National Park Service is seeking public comments on the management of more than 200 species of of invasive plants in the 15 national park in the region through June 10.

Email note from Emily Hewitt, NPS: "The regional Exotic Plant Management Team is hosting an invasive plant mapping day at Great Falls on Thursday, June 25th... The day will be from 9am - 3:30pm... If you are interested in participating please email mark_frey@nps.gov to sign up."

10 June, 2015, Nicole Galbraith, Your4State.com, "The Cumberland" reopens to public after renovations. The full-size replica boat was previously restored in 1976. The boat is located at Canal Place in Cumberland, MD.

From Along the Towpath, C&O Canal Association, XLVII, no 2, p 2. Lockhouse 75 is now open on the weekends for visitation. A 2012 description of this lockhouse can be found here ...

July 3, 2015, Potomac Almanac, Potomac Brief: C&O Canal Handbook Re-released. Partnering with the National Park Service, the C&O Canal Association has published a new revision of the C&O Canal Official National Park Handbook, to be available in July from park visitor centers.

From Along the Towpath, C&O Canal Association, XLVII, no 2, pp 8-9. The Harpers Ferry Historical Association has published a revised edition of Thomas F. Hahn, Towpath Guide to the C&O Canal. The new edition will be available at park visitor centers or from their own bookstore.

June 30, 2015, Reed Watson and Scott Wilson, The New York Times, Let's Fix Our National Parks, Not Add More. This op-ed piece argues that we should suspend the creation of new national parks and devote the money to badly needed maintenance of existing parks.

At its recent Board meeting, the Friends earmarked $11,320 (which along with other sources of funds) will purchase a mule, improve the lighting and landscaping of the Historic Tavern, and support the annual Park After Dark Event.

October 15, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Entrance Road Improvement Project. Starting October 5, 2015 through January 12, 2016, safety improvement work will be performed on the entrance and access roads in the Great Falls Tavern area in Potomac, Maryland.

September 18, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Rabid Deer Killed after Charging Park Ranger. Visitors advised to report contact.

September 17, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, C&O Canal Welcomes 4th Grade Students through Every Kid in a Park Initiative. New national program encourages families and classes to visit National Parks.

November 3, 2015, News Release, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Park to Hold Meeting on Tree Maintenance. Park Superintendent Kevin Brandt hosts an open house at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at Swains Lock Hiker-Biker Campground to discuss proposed hazard tree maintenance. All hazard tree removal at park locations in Montgomery County, Md. is on hold until further notice.

At its Annual Membership meeting on 14 November, the Friends re-elected five members of its Board of Trustees to new three-year terms: Lynne Astrich, Michael Brunner, Karen Harrison, Jim Moore, and Diane Seward. Ms. Seward also serves as the Treasurer of the Friends.

November 14, 2015, Potomac Almanac, Mary Kim, Potomac: Dismay over Tree Clearing along Canal. More than 40 people turned out for a community meeting with the National Park Service about planned removal of “defective” trees along the C&O Canal in Potomac.

November 23, 2015, C&O Canal Trust blog, Heidi Glatfelter, Canal Pride Artwork Contest Announced. The C&O Canal Trust today announced a t-shirt artwork contest for their 2016 Canal Pride events. Amateur artists are invited to submit artwork to be considered for the 2016 Canal Pride events.

December 9, 2015, Potomac Almanac, Susan Belford, Potomac: Garden Club Decorates Great Falls Tavern, cover and page 3. "For 38 years, the members of the Little Farms Garden Club have decorated the Great Falls Tavern for Christmas. The greenery and ribbon are donated by local businesses."

News from 2014 can be viewed here